On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal were joined by CanucksArmy writer Wyatt Arndt to unpack some takeaways from the Canucks’ crushing 6-0 shutout loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Canucks’ defensive and power-play struggles were on full display Wednesday night, as they faced a fast-paced Devils team that easily exposed their weaknesses.
Regarding the Canucks’ defensive play, Wyatt noted that this season’s performance has looked significantly sloppier than last year: “It could be a case of the team trying to push more, or maybe last year they started strong as underdogs and came into this season a bit complacent. Even J.T. Miller’s performance stood out for the wrong reasons—last night was one of his worst games. He looked totally disengaged, but we know he’s dealing with a bit of an injury. We don’t know everything player-by-player, so all we can do is go by the results, and the defensive coverage just hasn’t been there. Kevin Lankinen shouldn’t have to play this well to keep his guys in the game. That Carolina game could’ve been a blowout if it weren’t for Kevin’s huge saves keeping them in it. This team is leaking chances right now, and it comes down to their defensive depth. Their bottom pairing is trouble, and when their second pairing isn’t firing, they’re in serious trouble.”
The discussion then shifted to the daily dose of Elias Pettersson’s offensive struggles.
“We haven’t seen him make those moves where he beats a guy or dangles through—he tried it a couple of games ago, and it stood out, but it used to be common,” said Wyatt. “He is trying, but it seems like a mental thing, almost like there’s a disconnect between his body and his skill. He’s never been the quickest skater, but he’s a smart player who knows where to go. Now, it’s like he’s got the yips, like Ben Simmons. He doesn’t want to shoot; he’s always looking to pass. They’ve tried enough linemates that he should be able to produce. He’s getting paid and should be able to get on the scoresheet without Garland carrying his line. The effort is there—he’s still throwing hits and doing things—but he’s not the player he needs to be for this team. Defensive issues aside, if Pettersson can’t get it together, this team isn’t going far in the playoffs.”
The Canucks’ power play has also become a sore point for the team and fans alike, especially given the roster’s star power.
“At this point, you try anything,” Wyatt remarked. “Tocchet has given that first unit multiple chances to figure it out. I like Garland, but I also like him being a spark plug on the second unit. If they could get Sprong in there—he’s got those good offensive instincts. Sure, he might struggle defensively, but in this situation, he could really take off. You can sense the frustration with Tocchet when he talks about the power play. Even something as simple as movement—you can see it with Carolina. The way they move the puck and rotate creates those open looks. With the Canucks, it’s the puck that moves, not them. So, they keep it on the outside a lot and aren’t creating the open ice or switching things up. Opponents can just sit back, let them rotate, and block the shooting lanes. The Canucks need to try anything at this point because the power play is losing them games, the defensive coverage is losing games, and they’ve got to find a way to start winning. It’s only October, but it’s pretty easy to fall behind in this league, and before you know it, the season’s getting away from you.”
You can watch the full replay of the show below:
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